SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
KICK THE KANSAN. SEE PAGE 2B OR SUBMIT YOUR PICKS AT KICKTHEKANSAN@KANSAN.COM
VOLLEYBALL
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2007
WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE 1B
Squad ready for Jayhawk Invitational
Team to kick off tournament at noon
BY RUSTIN DODDrdodd@kansan.com
Ray Bechard knows you should never take a small school lightly. But last week, Bechard received reminder from the least likely of places: Appalachian State.
"You don't hear some of those names sometimes," Bechard said. "They're not household volleyball names, but I don't know that Appalachian State was a household name."
You see, Kansas was competing at the Spartan Invitation in East Lansing, Mich., on Saturday when Appalachian State pulled its historic upset against Michigan. And when Bechard entered Jenison Fieldhouse at Michigan State for Kansas' Saturday afternoon match, he was treated to a strange sight.
"There were a lot of Michigan State fans wearing Appalachian State shirts," Bechard said.
That is all the reminder Bechard needed to not overlook St. Peters, Wyoming and Morehead State this weekend at the Jayhawk Classic.
Kansas begins the tournament at noon today at Horesil Family Athletics Center against St. Peters then finishes with Wyoming at 7 p.m. tonight and Morehead State at noon on Saturday.
Kansas comes in the tournament with a 4-3 record after winning consecutive matches against Missouri State and UMKC.
The Jayhawks' first opponent, St. Peter's, is 2-7 and has lost four straight matches. Xansas' other opponents, Wyoming and Morehead State, are 3-2 and 4-3, respectively.
Barring an unlikely event, Kansas once again will play without its starting middle hitter, junior Natalie Uhart. Uhart was injured against Michigan State on Aug. 31 and has not played since. She sat
Mahoney
Bechard, who is unable to comment on the severity of the injury because of NCAA rules, said he hoped to have Uhart back in the next few weeks. Uhart missed all of last season after suffering a knee injury in the team's preseason alumnae match. Senior Caitlin Mahoney will continue to see more playing time in Uhart's absence.
out of Wednesday's 3-0 victory against UMKC.
Kansas continues to be led offensively by freshman outside hitter Jenna Kaiser. She leads the team with 2.48 kills per game, but some inconsistent play has led to 49 hitting errors and a hitting percentage of 0.75. Bechard has said that he wants his team's hitting percentage to be between .220 and .240. Right now, Kansas is has a team hitting percentage of .150.
Sophomore transfer Flavia Lino also has provided a lift to the offense, averaging 2.38 kills per game and leading the team with 13 aces.
Kansas also will lean on senior setter Emily Brown for another strong performance. The Baldwin City native had 27 assists, 3 digs and 5 blocks against UMKC and is leading the team with 6.27 assists per game.
Freshman Melissa Manda is another newcomer making an early season impact for the Jayhawks. Manda had 10 digs against UMKC while starting at libero and has given the Jayhawks 3.31 digs per game. A libero is a defensive specialist.
Sophomore setter Katie Martincich has picked up where she left off last season. Martincich is averaging 4.54 assists and 2.38 digs per game after leading the team in assists a season ago.
SEE VOLLEYBALL ON PAGE 6B
Sarah Leonard/KANSAN
SOCCER
Kansas midfielder Nicole Cauzillo contends with a BYU player for the ball during the team's home opener. Cauzilla praised goalkeeper Colleen Quinn for her performance.
Home opener spoiled by loss
Overtime defeat leaves room for improvement
BY ALISON CUMBOW acumbow@kansan.com
The Kansas soccer team lost its home opening game against Brigham Young University on Thursday. The team's third loss adds to a string of disappointments this season. Kansas lost 0-1 on a penalty kick in overtime.
The women started the first half with a strong surge of both energy and enthusiasm. The hope for the third game of their fall season to be the charm was high and seemed definite.
Big Jay made an appearance at the game, and Jayhawk fans continued to file in well into the 30th minute.
Senior goalkeeper Colleen Quinn impressed her teammates, coaches and the crowd with her unstoppable goal saving abilities.
Quinn successfully handled many distractions throughout the game, including a rabbit that thought it was its turn to receive a pass and an impromptu shower break. She kept her eye on the ball when the field sprinklers unexpectedly came on, shading her view.
"She really showed us the kind of keeper she can be," senior midfielder Nicole Cauzillo said.
At the end of the game, the score was tied at 0-0. The women broke for five
SEE SOCCER ON PAGE 6B
Sunday's game
Opponent: SMU
Location: Dallas
Enrollment: 11,000
Colors: Red and Blue
Head coach: Brett Erwin
2007 record: 1-0
2006 record: 17-5-1 (8-1)
Conference finish: First (Conference USA)
Starters returning/lost: 8/3
Tickets: Free with KUID
Sarah Leonard/KANSAN
Midfielder Nionica Dolinsky passes the ball during Thursday's match against BYU. The Jayhawks lost 0-1 in overtime when BYU's Kate Larkin scored a penalty shot.
》FOOTBALL
Offensive line strong with new players
BY ASHER FUSCO afusco@kansan.com
Sometimes it's tough to evaluate the performance of an offensive line. On any given play a number of distractions pop up between the viewer and the action in the trenches. Receivers sprint here and there, linebackers blitz, safeties scatter into zone coverage — and that's not including the quarterback or ball-carrier.
In lieu of focusing on the tackles, guards and center on every single snap, the best place to look for a quick assessment of the offensive line is often the "rushing yards"
The Jayhawk linemen certainly did an impressive job coming off of the line of scrimmage. It seemed whenever Kansas decided to run the ball, Central Michigan's defensive linemen were either on the ground or moving backward within milliseconds of
column in the final box score. Using that method of evaluation, the Kansas offensive line earned a passing grade last weekend, paving the way for 230 rushing yards.
("The offensive linemen) did a nice job," Kansas coach Mark Mangino said. "They came off the ball in the run game, really got a good take off and got some vertical push, which you want."
Center David Ochoa and guards Boo Whitaker and Travis Dambach graduated, leaving Kansas with three open spots in the middle of the line. Mangino plugged two of the holes from within the program, penciling in untested junior Adrian Mayes at left guard and versatile junior Ryan Cantrell at center. Kansas pulled a new right guard from the junior college ranks when Chet Hartley, out of Butler County Community College, chose to attend Kansas instead of Florida State last spring.
"When we recruited (Chet), we were hoping that he could add some immediate help on the offensive line," Mangino said. "He's doing a good job and learning every day. Every day there's something new for him to pick up, but he's coming along nicely."
the snap. The sheer dominance that Kansas displayed was surprising considering how much talent the team lost after last season.
Hartley did not make a big splash coming out of Kingman High, but honed his skills for two seasons at Butler and became a highly sought-after prospect. At 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, he has the body of a stellar lineman: heavy-set but tall and
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 6B
The Kansas offensive line holds off defenders to give senior running back Brandon McAnderson room to run in the Jayhawks' 52-7 victory against Central Michigan on Saturday. The line provided great support against the Chippewas, allowing KU to rush for 230 shots.
Sarah Leonard/KANSAN
4.
1